Mortal Kombat is one of the most beloved fighting game franchises on the planet, with a legacy spanning decades. Fans were treated to a triumphant return to the movies with Mortal Kombat 2021, which rebooted the story. Mortal Kombat II was released in 2026, greatly expanding the cast and introducing newcomers to more of the franchise lore.

Many audiences enjoyed Mortal Kombat II. It’s also an especially important movie for fans of the games, who get to see their favorite characters in action. It may seem strange, then, that the title wasn’t as big of a financial success as some expected. The stigma about video game adaptations being poor is outdated when you consider how well titles like A Minecraft Movie performed. Mortal Kombat arguably has niche appeal compared to such a juggernaut, but it’s still a respected IP.

Mortal Kombat II needed to make far more than its $129 million to be considered a success. However, modern movies have another chance to impress thanks to streaming services. Curious audiences who didn’t watch the 2026 film in theaters will be able to see what all the fuss was about from the comfort of their sofas, which may determine the fate of a potential Mortal Kombat III.

Mortal Kombat II Did Not Perform Well At The Box Office

Whether you loved or hated Mortal Kombat II, the harsh reality is that the movie could have performed better at the box office. The film grossed $129 million worldwide, which means it made slightly more than the 1995 original, which made $122 million. Mortal Kombat II also boasts a slightly higher Metacritic score than Mortal Kombat 2021.

Mortal Kombat II reportedly had an $80 million budget, though projects typically need to make 2.5 times that amount to start making a profit. That means Mortal Kombat II likely needed to make around $200 million to be considered a success, and fell quite short of that amount.

Director Simon McQuoid has spoken at length about the possibility of a Mortal Kombat III, saying fans would have to “wait and see.” He talked realistically about financials, explaining “the life cycle of this film needs to totally play out.” That life cycle includes physical and digital sales alongside its performance when it lands on HBO Max on July 24.

Warner Bros and New Line Cinema ultimately have the final say regarding a sequel. Fans will have to wait with bated breath until they make some sort of announcement.

Will Mortal Kombat 3 Happen Or Will History Repeat Itself?

Many regular moviegoers enjoyed Mortal Kombat II, and the title achieved the difficult task of appeasing audiences familiar with the source material as well. Despite the positive reception among those who saw it, there is still no guarantee that Mortal Kombat III will happen. It will be a shame if we don’t get a new film, considering the ending of Mortal Kombat II was so open-ended.

With the deafening silence around a potential new movie, it’s sadly easy to draw parallels to the 90s films. Mortal Kombat 1995 did surprisingly well considering the track record video game adaptations had, and the title boasts an iconic cast. Even the most ardent fans would agree that Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is rather poor compared to the original. It was also a commercial failure.

Mortal Kombat II is undoubtedly a far superior movie to Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Still, the finances are a critical stepping stone for a studio green-lighting any project, even if it heavily suggests there’s more story to tell.

Modern movies can get a second wind on streaming services, which is a luxury that didn’t exist in the 90s. Time will tell if audiences show up to watch Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max, even if they didn’t attend in theaters.

Release Date

May 8, 2026

Runtime

116 Minutes

Director

Simon McQuoid

Writers

Jeremy Slater

Producers

E. Bennett Walsh, James Wan, Simon McQuoid, Toby Emmerich, Todd Garner